Read first time 01/25/2005.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to proceedings for violations of commercial motor vehicle laws, rules, and orders; and amending RCW 46.32.100.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 46.32.100 and 1998 c 172 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     In addition to all other penalties provided by law, a commercial motor vehicle that is subject to terminal safety audits under this chapter and an officer, agent, or employee of a company operating a commercial motor vehicle who violates or who procures, aids, or abets in the violation of this title or any order or rule of the state patrol is liable for a penalty of one hundred dollars for each violation, except for each violation of 49 C.F.R. Pt. 382, controlled substances and alcohol use and testing, 49 C.F.R. Sec. 391.15, disqualification of drivers, and 49 C.F.R. Sec. 396.9(c)(2), moving a vehicle placed out of service before the out of service defects have been satisfactorily repaired, for which the person is liable for a penalty of five hundred dollars. Each violation is a separate and distinct offense, and in case of a continuing violation every day's continuance is a separate and distinct violation.
     The penalty provided in this section is due and payable when the person incurring it receives a notice in writing from the patrol describing the violation and advising the person that the penalty is due. The patrol may, upon written application for review, received within fifteen days, remit or mitigate a penalty provided for in this section or discontinue a prosecution to recover the penalty upon such terms it deems proper and may ascertain the facts upon all such applications in such manner and under such rules as it deems proper. If the amount of the penalty is not paid to the patrol within fifteen days after receipt of the notice imposing the penalty, or application for remission or mitigation has not been made within fifteen days after the violator has received notice of the disposition of the application, the ((attorney general shall bring an action)) patrol may commence an adjudicative proceeding under chapter 34.05 RCW in the name of the state of Washington ((in the superior court of Thurston county or of some other county in which the violator does business,)) to confirm the violation and recover the penalty. In all such ((actions)) proceedings the procedure and rules of evidence are ((the same as an ordinary civil action)) as specified in chapter 34.05 RCW except as otherwise provided in this chapter. All penalties recovered under this section shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the state patrol highway account of the motor vehicle fund.